Illinois ladies facing bc
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"Trust is the glue of life. It's the most essential ingredient in
effective communication. It's the foundational principle that holds all
relationships." ~ Stephen R. Covey0 -
Just wondering if anyone has had radiation treatments at Kellogg Cancer Center and how did it go?
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Timbuktu Northshore has a really good reputation in general. They used to be Northwestern but then split. My LE MD is there.
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Timbuktu,
I go to Kellogg Care Center in Evanston. I have only had 1 nurse who was indifferent. Those nurses that have seen me before have stopped in just to see how I am doing while I am in treatment. They offer juice, crushed ice, snacks, warm blankets, free wi-fi, and my own treatment room. My doctor sees me each treatment and his nurse checks in with me during treatment.
I have been to Kellogg Care Center at Glenbrook for hydration. Front desk staff and nursing staff are great! Just did not like the mo
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What is an mo?
Thanks for the responses. My breast onco is there and he's very good. But I need radiation for the endometrial cancer and I'm not very confident about the recommended radiologist. But then I'm just plain scared about a lot of things.
I haven't been writing. While my surgery in New York went very well (today it is 6 weeks since the surgery) I went back for a radiology consult and a post op exam. It was to be a quick two day trip. I had a bleed. The surgeon put me in the hospital and as it was Friday I had to wait to have an endoscopy. Turned out that I have an ulcer. Stress? NSAID's? Who knows. He cauterized and clipped it and I need another endoscopy in 2 months. Four days in the hospital were awful. But thank God I survived and I'm back home. Only thing is I lost more than 3 pints of blood and I'm wiped out. When I got home I thought I'd eat a big hamburger for the iron. I wound up throwing up all night long. Even threw up one one of the clips. I haven't been able to think about radiation. I thought it was the ulcer that made me throw up but the next day my husband was the same so it was a bug. Then I developed a UTI...again. So it's been breast cancer and then chemo and then endometrial cancer then surgery, then ulcer and blood loss, then virus then UTI. Now I have to figure out what to do about radiation and whether or not my body can even endure it at this point. I got my blood chemistries today and I've never seen anything like it. What a mess!
On top of it all, I feel the stress has finally caught up to me. I've really impressed myself so far. I didn't know I was this strong.
But at this point there's not much left. Physically and emotionally I'm overwhelmed and depleted.
This is such a positive group I hate to be "Debbie Downer" but it's been a rough ride. My husband still doesn't feel normal just from the virus and he has none of my issues.
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OH Tim u'r never a downer--u don't feel well and u'r having a bad time and I am truly sorry. If u'r DH got this it must be some kind of but--but u sure didn't need it now. Water plenty of it and if u can the ones with electrolytes in it--I tastes pretty good. Some go thru more than others but none of this is a good ride, Rest.
Oh I forgot out newbies name but she starts chemo today--It really is boring so don't worry about it and we're all here to help u thru the next few days, so I hope u come back. I'm the resident pusher of benedryl in the mix and I hope u get that too. And yet I've never taken a pill in my life.
Does everyone get Benedryl at the begining of each chemo? I just assume they do. I do know the last 6 months of chemo at first I asked about it and she said if u want it of course--so I thought maybe u don't always get it. The first year I got it all the time, without asking--so I really don't know what combo gets it.
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Timbuktu your are not a Debbie Downer. OMG what a fiasco. I don't blame you for being a little down. I would really ask your onc (MO stands for Medical Oncologist) if you can get something for the anxiety/depression. I wouldn't be surprised if all this stress is adding to the ulcer issues. I'm sure the daily tossing (puking) isn't helping either. I know that's how my IBS and Gerd started... I quite that job. I too had an ulcer spotted with the throat-cam. Hate stress. It really does a job on us physically too. You are going through so much right now. hang in there.
Camille I only had the chemo for 6 rounds and yes I got benadryl. I remember the nurse telling me the first time when she started it... I laughed and said "Yeah I noticed 30 seconds ago." It always makes me high. Some people don't get it. Some chemos aren't as bad with SE so they don't give it to you right away unless you have a problem. At least that's what I have noticed.
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"Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path
that leads to wisdom."
Buddha0 -
Tim, I am thinking so much about you. You have a RIGHT to be down....you are exhausted by all that has happened.....and almost all of it scary and feeling indefinite. Do get something for anxiety and then make up a plan to do what you can about what is going on. Sending lots of healing thoughts and prayers and hopes your way.
Blessings
Jackie
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Timbuktu
There is more strength inside of you! I know that is not what you want to hear. I call these times the dark days. I wish I had the magic words to take all of this away. Each of these challenges will pass (at least that is what DH and DD tell me).
Small bland meals, rest, and lots of liquids….
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Thanks guys, you're the best.
Lago, was that the stress that you feel pushed you into the breast cancer too? Did the ulcer go away?
This is doubly difficult for me because it was a bleeding ulcer that killed my father, It took months of bleeding.
This feels a bit like post traumatic stress disorder as I keep flashing on him and all he went through and how I just
couldn't help him. He was never the same after that bleed. I know I'm not him...at least I tell myself that... but all of the feelings of that time come back to me. And Lady you are so right, I need a treatment plan for the radiation but I'm kin d of stuck. I set today aside to do this and I'm having a hard time getting started. As we all know, once the decisions are made it becomes a bit easier to put one foot in front of the other. But feeling as I do, breathless, heart pounding, weak and emotional, it's hard to fight through to rational and in control. But I will. I think we've all learned that we're a lot stronger than we thought we were.
I did get a script for Xanax but even that makes me nervous. It is addictive and I don't like to take it unless I really need to. But as I write this, i see how ridiculous that is. I DO really need to take it!
I think when it warms up today (God willing) I will have to get out into the sun. There was one day last week, when I went to Old Orchard to see my internist, and I got there early and sat outside in the sun for about 40 minutes. It was magical. Not only did I feel different physically, it totally changed my mood. I THINK this may be the week that we've been waiting for, spring HAS to come sometime! It's been a brutal winter in so many ways.
All that said, I do have to remind my self that the drs think I dodged two bullets with these cancers. I'm almost afraid to say it but they say that with radiation I have a 98% chance of no recurrence. Things could be so much worse, I feel guilty complaining.
Better days are ahead...for all of us!
BTW mapgirl, that was exactly what I wanted to hear!
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Timbuktu my BS told me my tumor had been growing for 4 years... that would be exactly 1 year and 3 months after I started this job at this very sick place (and about the time I left too). So yes I do think stress played a big part in it but I also have very dense breast tissue, no kids so that didn't help.
The IBS/Ulcer was back in 2007-2008 so yes it healed. The 1st GI was a jerk. Wouldn't listen to me. I kept telling him f or 3 months the meds weren't working (Omeprazole, prescription Prilosuc basically). I finally called my PCP after I lost my voice (Yeah it got that bad). He got me in with a different GI. Prescribed Carafate suspension... pain gone in 2-3 days I think. I do believe that is for ulcers. You might want to ask your MD about it. It's a PITA to take since you need to take it 4 times a day either an hour before you eat or 2 hours after and it's a liquid.
Don't assume you have your father's ulcer. Not sure when he passed but either he was much older than you with a weaker immune system or it was years ago... and medical science has improved. My maternal grandmother passed at age 67. My mom is well past that age. Don't assume you got all the bad genes
I agree about needing to get out! Also when you are a bit more healed you need to get physical. Even a casual walk will help your mind.
.
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Thanks Lago, I'm on Carafate and although I hate the taste I lOVE the way it feels. I'm also on a proton pump inhibitor. If my spelling is off I have an excuse, no blood to the brain!
You girls gave me some strength today., I made some calls, made some appointments, asked some questions. The worst thing is being paralyzed and ruminating. How can you make a decision if you don't get information? I do feel much better now as I made an app with a radiation oncologist. And she said that it's ok to wait a few weeks until I'm stronger, this kind of thing happens to a lot of people. Whew!
My father was 84 when the ulcer hit and I'm 64. He died only 8 years ago. But we were very close in so many ways. Now I am feeling what he was feeling and that doubles the pain for me.
I'm so glad you got yourself out of that bad situation Lago. Sometimes, when you don't, your body takes over and forces you to do what you need to do.
I have been saying, for years now, that certain situations have been "eating me up". True! OTH, the NSAID's I took after the surgery didn't help. They came with massive warnings. I read them all and took them anyway. And here I am. I think what you once said is so true, there are many factors to every situation. Stress, genes, etc. Then something pushes you over the edge and you get sick.
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There's a big difference between 84 and 64... a huge difference! You are so much younger you will eventually get this healed.
I know the pain and that's what's getting to you. It's horrible. Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor. Most of the time they don't work for me. Guess I'm special.
Also I find that anesthesia gives me heartburn, digestive issues. It can take a month to get back to normal even though the MDs say it will only effect you for about a week. Bullshit! Every time I had general anesthesia it took 4 weeks. That isn't a coincidence.
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Glad you said that Lago. I was terrified of the endoscopy because when my father had it done he came out a vegetable. He was sharp as a tack when he went in, joked around with the drs, etc. Anyway, enough about that. The endoscopy went well and I was very relieved. But...I couldn't take a deep breath. So I walked around and it helped. But that was about 10 days ago and I'm just beginning to feel I can breathe deeply. I didn't experience that at all after the hysterectomy, which took over 4 hours! Nor did I have it after the mastectomy, about 5 hours. Maybe because I was intubated for those? I had propophol for the endoscopy but was not intubated.
They do so many things in a hospital to KEEP you from getting well, it's amazing that we do. I was in for over 4 days and was not allowed to eat or drink (IV's are not the same), not allowed to sleep (blood pressure and blood draws every few hours) they took away my bp meds so my bp soared and I had splitting headaches, I had so many needles in my one good arm I could not move in bed. It was really an endurance test. But I'm still here so I have to be grateful for that. If I was not strong, I don't think I would be here.
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First of all why on earth would you want to eat the hospital food! I don't know about where you are but Rush has some nerve calling what they serve "food." If it wasn't packages (like yogurt) or salad there was no way I was eating it. Usually too much salt, over cooked and cold. I would take one bite and spit it out.
Sleeping at a hospital. Never. You described it perfectly except you left out the nurses need to let you know they are the new shift nurse (love getting woken up at 3am) then again by the residents then all that other stuff you described. People don't want to give up the pain meds not for the pain but probably so they can pass out and get rest.
I remember when I got my port out and they said no meds before. Then I get a call from my PCP about my "hypertension." I don't have hypertension but if you take away my diuretic then pump me with saline solution what do you think is going to happen! I may only take a small amount for fluid retention but my BP is just fine!
I do sometimes wonder if they really should do some of these procedures on older folks. At times its the procedure that shortens their life.
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The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing in a hospital. You really have to know what's going on to protect yourself, and that's not all that easy when you're sick. I really hate to think about people who are old and disoriented, not to mention those who don't know English all that well.
I'm usually really paranoid about eating in a hospital...afraid of the crazy bugs that live there, like MRSA. And yes, the food is usually horrid.
Holding water is my big problem and diuretics are what save me from my blood pressure problems. Because I'd lost so much blood they decided to pump me full of extra water so I was not surprised when my pressure went over 200. They are directing their care to the "average" person who does not exist. We are the ones who know who we are and they really should listen to what we tell them.
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Oh Tim u're having such a bad time right now and I feel so sorry. Being close to u'r dad of course u'r thinking about what he went thru, but please try not to compare he would even tell u that. Not only age but all different factors come in to view. And take the Xanax if u need it--it's not like getting addicted to cocaine if u even do get addicted, which might not even happen. Just take it and u'r right about the sun so I hope it comes out and u can feel the warmth and energy from it. And like Lago says if the weather permits take a walk in it, it really does calm down anxiety, it's like it pushes it out of u'r system. And being in a hospital sucks I know but sometimes we get stuck in there and just look forward to going home. But the only difference I have to say is the food at CDH is excellent --it's like to good---and u had room service anytime u wanted---so I can't complain about food, but I am glad u got things started and feel better about waiting for u'r app't. One thing u can relax about.---(((HUGS)))
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Thanks Cami, you have such a big heart! I decided to take the xanax and it made my bp drop. It also made me feel a whole lot better. Good advice.
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Yay Timbuktu. Sometimes you need to live with modern chemistry
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When
I awaken in the morning, I am thankful for a new day.
I am thankful for everything that I have materially.
I am thankful for everything I have spiritually.
I thank God for allowing me to experience these things, even the
experiences that may not seem so positive, such as developing an illness.
I may not understand why I have the illness, but I sense that it is there
for a purpose, and so I thank God for it.
I ask him to allow me to expand beyond my narrow-mindedness and
self-centeredness so that I can see the good that comes from
everything. Betty
Eadie0 -
LADY, Betty Eadie is the gratitude lady, isn't she? Good reminder. I used to keep a gratitude journal and it really helped. First thing I'm grateful for? All of you!
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Yes, yes, yes. All about accepting the spiritual you, along with the physical you.
Blessings,
Jackie
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Tim good for u and isn't it funny how Jackie picked the perfect quote that u knew about the author?
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It's funny though, how many times Jackie's quotes seem so perfect!
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Tim
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to Timbuktu
Tim, I am very sorry to hear about your ordeal at the hospital with the bleeding ulcer. Please take your Xanax and do not worry about addiction. This medication will help you relax and help you to sleep at night. You will be able to see things clearly once the anxiety is under control and you can take a deep breath.
I was very ill 15 years ago and i was not able to eat solid food for many months, until I could not eat anything and almost died. I was afraid to take the prescribed Xanax because i was afraid of addiction. My anxiery and fear skyrocketed because I was in constant pain and I was losing weight. After 3 weeks on the medication, my other GI meds started to work, I was able to eat some baby food but in bigger quantity. I got my life back. I was never addicted to the medication because i took it as prescribed and gradually weaned myself 6 months later when I no longer needed it.
I took some Xanax during my initial bc diagnose when we thought that I was stage 4 but I only took a few pills as needed.
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Danin
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Wow! What a story Dani. So glad it had a happy ending! I will definitely continue to take the xanax. Thank you!
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